Between Federal Universities and State Universities which one is the best

Between Federal Universities and State Universities which one is the best

Many people have asked this question several times but no one has provided a satisfactory answer.

In fact, this specific topic has sparked so many arguments, and they will continue as long as state and federal universities are still present in Nigeria.

While most people will say that a state university is better than a federal university, others will come up with several reasons why that statement is not true.

So I am writing this article to clarify this topic on which is better between state and federal universities.

What is a state university?

A state university is a public university funded and controlled by a state government.

What is a federal university?

A Federal University is a public university managed and funded by a federal government.

Which means every activity in the university is regulated by the federal government.

When comparing state universities to federal universities, they are several factors to consider, including:

Tuition fee

One of the reasons most people run away from state universities is the fact that their school fees are high compared to those of federal universities.

We all know that everyone is looking for a good university to attend and, at the same time, one with an affordable school fee.

And presently federal universities generally have more affordable fees compared to state universities although some state universities pay cheaper fees than Federal universities.

Admission Style

Every university has its own style of admitting students. Most state universities use candidates’ O-level results and UTME results to get each candidate’s aggregate score, unlike federal universities, which make use of Post-UTME combined with UTME results to get each candidate’s aggregate score.

Admission into federal universities is very tough due to its competitiveness. On the other hand, admission into state universities is not that tough compared to federal universities.

Many state universities tend to favour state indigenes during the admission process. This is not the case for federal universities, as they make use of catchment areas.

Most federal universities, after writing your UTME and O’level exams, will conduct another exam called post-UTME. After writing this exam, all your scores will be calculated, with the maximum being 100%.
But this is not true for almost all state universities.

Admission Examination

Most state universities, after you have written your UTME and O’Level exams, will conduct only a physical or online screening exercise. By just adding your UTME and O’Level, your screening score will be given, with the maximum being 100%.

So for this aspect of admission examination, I can’t really say because screening will favor those with good O’Level results, while post-UTME will favor those with either good UTME results and poor O’Level results only if you can pass your post-UTME exams well. If you feel you prefer screening to post-UTME, then you should go to a state university, but if you prefer post-UTME to screening, then you should go to a federal university.

Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, commonly known as ASUU, is an organization that brings different academic staff members of a university together.

Almost all federal universities in Nigeria are under ASUU, so once they call for a strike, every tertiary institution under ASUU will have to obey.

One of the main causes of this federal university going on strike is the failure of the government to pay the staff their salary, and once they can’t bear it anymore, they would have no other option than to call for a strike, which can last sometimes more than 5 months.

Unlike federal universities, most state universities don’t go on strike because they are not under the umbrella of ASUU.

Academic Background and Reputation

Without argument, federal universities have a better academic background and reputation than state universities.

Federal universities, such as the University of Ibadan (UI), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), have a wide reputation and strong academic background.

Federal universities in Nigeria have produced so many great people who are currently serving in top-level positions in government and other sectors.

Don’t get me wrong, state universities have also produced so many great people in Nigeria, but federal universities have more academic reputation.

Currently, many top celebrities and socialites opt for federal universities due to their excellent academic reputation and high standards.

Facilities and Infrastructure

In recent years, federal universities are known for their top academic facilities and equipment.

However, many federal universities still use outdated facilities and equipment. On the other hand, state universities currently have better working equipment and facilities than most federal universities.

Population

The population of students at federal universities is greater than that at state universities. As of 2023, UNILORIN and UNILAG were the most sought-after universities, according to Jamb, and funny enough, both of them are federal. universities.

Federal Universities have a larger population compared to state universities.

Extra-curicular Activities

Both federal and state universities offer a range of extra-curricular activities, including sports, competitions, and parties.

Employment rate for graduates

Based on research, only a few State Universities have a good employability rate for graduates compared to federal universities.

Federal Universities like the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Obafemi Awolowo University have one of the best employability rates in recent years.

Recently, Private Universities are leading the chart for employability rates for graduates in Nigeria.

Conclusion

Looking at all the factors stated above, you can see that federal universities are ahead of state universities in many ways, but that doesn’t mean state universities aren’t good. They are good with quality education, but Federal Universities are just better.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article. I sincerely want to hear your opinion on this topic in the comment section below.

If you also have any questions to ask or feel something needs to be added to this content, kindly drop them in the comment section.

Thanks for your time.